Tipping my head back I looked up at his soft brown eyes. They were full of understanding, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Okay, your house. But I plan on contributing in some way. I can’t show up empty-handed. So could you call your mom and ask her what I could bring?”
He kissed the tip of my nose. It was quickly becoming one of my favorite things that he did. “Yeah I’ll go call her right now and give her a heads-up that we have two more coming.” He swatted me on the butt and grabbed his phone before he walked over to the dining room.
Oh boy, now was not the time to panic about meeting Camden’s family for the first time. I was sure that his parents were lovely. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that they had raised two great boys. The other two had to be just as wonderful. Holy crap two more Brooks brothers. I didn’t know if I was in for a treat, or if I should be worried. Camden and Dodger couldn’t be any more different from one another. One brother was serious and a hard ass, but with a sweet side he didn’t show often. The other was charismatic, funny, and easygoing. Both were drop-dead gorgeous. I was curious what their parents looked like. It had to have come from somewhere. Sighing, I went back to washing the dishes and tried to decide what I was going to say to my mom later this evening.
“Blue, you got the pies?” Camden called from upstairs. I was loading the desserts I’d made the night before into the car.
“Yeah, come on!” I shouted up to him. He was leaning over the railing and looking as delicious as ever. Who needed dessert when I had him?
Locking up he came downstairs and we all got in the car. Sarah stayed the night last night since we were leaving kind of early. Turns out she was right about my mom wanting to duck out of the holiday festivities. We got into a pretty monumental fight over her leaving my sister at home by herself. She started crying and telling me that I was accusing her of being a bad parent. Maybe I was. But I hadn’t had the first clue how I could make her wake up and see just how destructive she was being.
On the drive to his parents’ house, my nerves began to kick in. The only comfort I had going in to this was that Macie was going to be there too. Camden knew I was getting antsy because every few minutes he’d give my hand a squeeze. Looking over at him, he was ridiculously handsome. He was wearing dark jeans and a black thermal henley that molded to every curvature of his arms and chest. He styled his hair in a spiky mess, and he had on a cologne that was a deep woodsy scent. Between how he looked and smelled, he was a lethal combination. I wanted him. I felt like I wasn’t up to par with him, and I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. I had on a pair of white skinny jeans, tan flats, and a loose fitted peach chevron design top. I’d put something in my hair that helped make the waves stand out more than normal and it hung down my back. Camden’s face when he saw me this morning was all the approval that I needed. I just hoped I wasn’t underdressed for his family.
We’d been on the road for almost thirty minutes when we turned off into a nice subdivision on the other side of Athens. The homes weren’t necessarily brand new, but it was the type of neighborhood that had beautiful large trees, and well-manicured lawns. The further we drove, the bigger the houses got. My palms were sweating, but Camden never said anything about it. When he pulled into the driveway of a stately looking home, I looked up. It was a two-story colonial that could have been plucked right out of a Southern Living magazine. White columns adorned the front and the green shutters made the anterior of the home pop. Poppies, daffodils, lilies, and hedges were laid out around the front of the house and around a tree in the middle of the yard. This was certainly not what I imagined when I pictured Camden’s childhood home. Parking the car, he got out and came around to open my door. I saw Macie’s vehicle, along with a few others, and I felt a little relieved that she was already here.
Sarah had already jumped out, and she was racing up the path to the front door. “Don’t touch anything!” I shouted to her.
Camden put his arm around me and kissed my cheek. “It’s not a museum Keegan. My parents are cool, promise.”
Just as he spoke, someone opened the front door. I was looking at a younger version of Dodger; black hair and bright caramel colored eyes. He was tall but leaner than both Dodger and Camden. He came walking down the steps with a broad grin on his face. He approached Camden, and they clapped hands and pulled each other into an embracing hug.
“Hey little bro, good to see you.”
“You too.” They both stood back and beamed. When those eyes shifted to me, I got a quick once over. “Nice arm candy, dude. You going to introduce me?”
Camden rolled his eyes and shoved his shoulder. “She’s not arm candy asshole. Wrig, this is Keegan. Keegan, this is my youngest brother Wrigley.”
I held out my hand, which he took. “So nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is definitely all mine.” He smirked and wagged his eyebrows.
“Give it a rest little man. She ain’t interested.”
“Says who? Seems good looks run in your family. Where’s the oldest brother, I need to see my options,” I retorted.
Camden narrowed his eyes at me. “Keegan,” he said in warning.
“Well, I’m just saying… who says you’re the brother for me? Macie may have one of you but that leaves me with three—” I was cut off. Camden hoisted me over his shoulder and slapped my ass. I squealed, “Put me down! I can’t meet your mother like this.”
“Sure you can, she’ll love you.”
“But I’m upside-down. Come on Camden, my hair is going to be a mess.”
“You’re still beautiful.” He strode toward the door. I heard Wrigley chuckling behind us.
“Camden Mason Brooks, what are you doing to that poor girl?” a lovely sing-song voice chimed.
“Oh hey Mom. I’m just trying to teach a lesson.”
I was going to kill him. “Do you really have to be such a caveman? I swear you’re more like your father every day.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” He seemed pleased with himself. “Mom, I want you to meet my friend and roommate, Keegan.” He spun me around so when I pushed up with my hands against his back I could look up at her.
She nearly took my breath away. I was looking at a flawless porcelain doll. The boy’s mom was more petite that I would have imagined. Definitely shorter than my five-foot-three stature. She had long brown hair that she curled at the ends, deep brown eyes that matched Camden’s, and the softest features I think I’ve ever seen. Although it was kind of hard to tell from this angle. She gave me a welcoming smile that eased some of my discomfort.
Holding out her hand she said, “Hi, I’m Donna. So nice to finally meet you.”
At least she seemed amused at her son’s playfulness. I shook it and returned the greeting. It wasn’t lost on me that two things have been said that made me take pause. For starters Camden introduced me as his friend. I realized that we hadn’t put a label on whatever this was, but I assumed we’d surpassed the friend category. And second, what has he told her about me? Her use of the word ‘finally’ rang in my ears, so he must have told her something regarding me. None of this sounded promising.
“Cam put her down, and come give me a hug.” She patted his arm.
He set me down, and I tried to comb my hair back in place with my fingers. Seriously? Great first impression, Keegan, just wonderful. The hug that he gave his mother was reverent and loving. I could tell in the tenderness that he showed her that he loved his mom very much. I liked that. Boys who loved and respected their mothers always scored points in my book. When she let him go, she smiled back at me and gestured toward the house.